tdotrenae's reviews
142 reviews

We Could Be Magic by Marissa Meyer

adventurous inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

My goodness this one was sooooo cute! My high school self would've eaten this up! I loved the art style and the way that story unfolded. It was a little predictable, but the end had me shocked in the best ways! I feel like Marissa's writing style plus Joelle's art style fit perfectly together! I will definitely be picking up a copy for my younger cousins! 

My one sentence summary: While Tabi scores a job at her dream place, Sommerland, it is definitely not her dream job there, however with a little bit of magic and a new crush, Tabi makes it the best summer ever! 

I would recommend this graphic novel to anyone who enjoys high school/young adult romances, enjoys Disney inspired books, no spice, but definitely swoon worthy romance, a FMC who is strong and dedicated, with adorable and diverse characters! Thanks so much to NetGalley for this e-Advance Reader Copy - I truly inhaled this one! 

Unlikely Neighbors: A Spicy Black Romance by Renee Daniel Flagler

challenging emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

3.5 out of 5 stars for me! 

I mean this is the most loving way, but I definitely thought it was going to be spicier. I was expecting it to be mostly sex with a sprinkle of a plot, but this book is not that! There's definitely a pretty good plot filled with young adults finding themselves, family drama, found family, and more! This was just an ok read for me, nothing was too exciting, and I was not overly invested in either Holland's or Noble's family (or work) drama. Their romance was sweet enough for me to want to keep reading. There's a lot crammed into the last like 35% of the book, which I felt like could've been really nicely flushed out, without feeling rushed. 

My one sentence summary: Noble and Holland both are set on a path of finding themselves as they navigate separate challenging situations, and somehow, someway those paths lead right into each other (and each other's beds). 

I would recommend this book to someone who likes a book with a decent spice to plot ratio, who loves some family drama! Sub tropes include he falls first, guy next door, & insta-love. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy - it was cute! 

Brielle and Bear: Volume 1 by Salomey Doku

adventurous emotional lighthearted tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Omg, I knew from the cover that I was going to loveeeeee Brielle and Bear! The artwork is absolutely stunning throughout the book. I love how each of the seasons has slightly different color palates/schemes - even all of the characters are beautiful! I love the premise of Brielle and Bear, and I love how adorable and incredibly sweet the MMC and FMC are to each other. This is a sugary sweet graphic novel, where it's a Jock and a beautiful Nerd fall in love. Do you love Disney? Probably go ahead and pick this one up. Honestly, I even like the antagonist! He's adorable in an annoying bad guy kinda way! 

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Random House Children's for this e-ARC! I ate it up!

Love on the Horizon 1 by Machi Yamashita

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this early release copy of Love on the Horizon 1! This was such a sugary sweet, BL manga. This story is kinda set up like a prequel of events that have already happened via a flashback. I think the set up of the romance and how Nagi and Yu's relationship first started is such a unique and interesting take.  I really liked how the story was woven and I cannot wait to see how they will continue to fall in love. The art style is beautiful and light/fluffy. I really feel like the tension and romance builds over time that makes it believable to me. I would say there's some almost NSFW scenes, but nothing is overly sexual, but definitely some STRONG suggestions :) I truly enjoyed it, it was short and sweet and left me itching for more! I cannot wait until the next volume!  

A Wedding in the Lowcountry by Preslaysa Williams

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release copy of A Wedding in the Lowcountry. I honestly picked up the book because the MMC went to Hampton and as an Hamptonian myself, I just had to get it. I really thought the premise was cute and I was really excited to read this one! 

However, I was really left wanting so much more from this story. I am usually a slow-burn girlie, but my goodness this was the slowest pace I have ever read. Like there were times where the main character was insufferable, like Avila, he's a GOOD MAN! Like sis, pleaseeeee don't let the love of your life slip away! 

I will say that Terance kept me reading the book. He definitely falls first and has the patience of a saint! He really saved the book for me. I also loved how Ebony kept pressure on her mom to do the right things, sometimes we need people in our lives like that. I would probably recommend this book to someone who might be trying to dip their toe into reading romances. It was a light and sweet story, but I wanted a little more depth and a bit more romance. Overall, it was an okay read for me. 

Daybreak Volume One by Moosopp

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Thank you so so so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for this e-ARC. I requested it because the cover was so adorable! Like how cute are they!? Honestly, this is such a cute and cozy budding love story! The art is amazing! THE CHARACTERS ARE LITERALLY THE CUTEST EVER! These sweet teenaged babies. I love that the main characters are two Black men - like you should pick this up for the representation alone! Cog and Marcus are literally my babies now. 

And it has a cute ass plot?? I was invested by like the 2nd page into the story. 5/5 stars - no notes. I kid you not, I was giggling and kicking my feet, like I WAS the one falling in love (or at least like). Well done! I literally am already FEENING for the next Volume! When does it come out again?? I'm going to be re-reading this incessantly until the next part! 

A Wager at Midnight by Vanessa Riley

adventurous dark emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

 Firstly, thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of A Wager At Midnight. I am honestly, not sure how to rate it or where to start this review.

Things I liked: I really loved the premise of the story and the idea of these opposites attracted lovers. Scarlett and Stephan's banter was so cute and it was funny getting to watch them attempt to navigate so many obstacles and precarious situations (some that they created themselves LOL). I loved the plot twist at the end with Chrysanthemum. I also feel like Scarlett's character had a good redemption arc for me. I also really loved the epilogue and how the book wrapped up. I would say that the last 50% of the book really had me hooked.

Things that didn't work for me: The writing in the first 35% was a STRUGGLE for me to get through. I really feel like if I listened to this book, I might have liked it a lot more. I also struggled with some of the descriptions of the characters - I felt like I was making up character's looks because I didn't have a good description. I feel like maybe it could be helpful to put the character list at the back of the book, because seeing that first, was overwhelming for me.

Overall, I feel mixed ways about the book. The first half had me tempting to DNF it, but the second half saved it. I would probably read another book by this author, and I am eager to learn what happens with the next sister in the story! 

The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest

challenging lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Goodness what a beautiful end to one of my favorite love story series! I feel like I have really grown to know and love the Greene Sisters so much. 

I will say that I actually like Iris's and Angel's love story the most, because it felt the most real and relatable *to me*! As a type A girlie, who has everything structured in their life and keeping it all afloat when things are falling apart - I relate to Iris on a deep level. There were a few times, I was like "Iris, sis - FOCUS AND GET YOUR MAN! STOP PLAYING AROUND!" I also just think Angel is so sugary sweet and adorable. Like SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN ME IMMEDIATELY! Angel literally is all that is good with about Southern men who love firmly and steadfastly. 

I thought that Iris and Angel both have such depth and are such lovely characters. I never wanted this story to end to be honest. I feel like Iris is the most complex of her sisters, and that comes with being the oldest and her life experiences. I also loved that both characters had to face a decision that was really tough to navigate, but the right thing to do. I needed to hear that in this season of my life. 

Kristina's writing is soft and fluffy, but there's just enough spice in this story that I adored. I love slow and intentional spice. This story has a little bit of everything - love after loss, sugary sweet love story, celebrity MMC, and Girl Boss FMC, growth, close knit families. Would recommend to folks who are looking for a fluffy beach read, with Black romance and interesting characters that are easy to fall in love with. 

Losing Sight by Tati Richardson

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

First, I want to thank Tati Richardson for writing this, NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me an advance listener copy of this book, and Jaime Lincoln Smith and Charlie L Wood for narrating!

I feel like this was so good and fun to read! I love that the main characters were more mature -  Gideon and Tanika are such fun characters to get to know! 

I really enjoyed their banter and their spice. I feel like they really worked well together despite their life circumstances being very different.  I also even love the element of like the supernatural pushing them together. I thought that was so dreamy and romantic! I also really enjoyed all of the side characters, even the villains in the story! Like all of them were so well written that like every character felt valuable and important to the story.

I even thought the premise of a romance story around glasses was so interesting! I was not sure about it when I started the book, but it just works for the story. I mean, that’s just like an ode to the author because she can write about literally anything and it makes sense!

My only complaint is that Gideon was a bit stubborn towards the end, which I did not appreciate because like I felt like he could’ve been more mature in the situation, but it is a great reminder that like even once you were a more mature person in your 40s that sometimes you get stuck in your old ways. I also wanna say that there is a section of the book where Tanika was discussing being a perfectionist and it read me for filth, and I feel like I really needed to hear that. 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I think that people who are looking for a romance story that is a little magical, and a little whimsical and a little bit of fated , mature lovers will really enjoy this one! I also cannot recommend the audiobook of this book enough because the narrators were so incredible! My hats off to them because they made the story so real when you’re listening to it ! I cannot wait to read what this author writes next! 

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson

adventurous informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Charmaine Wilkerson is a PHENOMENAL writer. My goodness! I loved Black Cake and so I immediately wanted to read this one. The way that she weaves a story is incredible. The story follows a very wealthy Black family as they navigate grief, life after the tragic loss of their son and the loss of one of their family heirlooms. I loveddddd the multiple POVS, getting to navigate the world as Ebby, her parents, her ex, and her ancestors. Like this was a beautifully woven story that grapples with wealth, racism, love, grief, loss, finding yourself, and returning back to your roots. I feel like each character brought something to the story and there were no wasted plot lines. As someone who studied Black wealth at one time, it was beautifully done in this story. I loved how the author did not shy away from the unique experiences of racism and colorism that wealthy Black people experience, especially those who’s Blackness is salient to them. I feel like this story captured my attention at like 2% in! I oscillated between the audiobook and e-book and both were wonderful. Shout out to the narrators for this one!

 

The one small thing I did not like is how much spotlight Henry got in the book, but it’s like I understood why. He’s apart of the story with the jar, but I was sick of him sometimes. #TeamEbby! I will say that this is a story you really have to pay attention to, because it is so rich, which is not a draw back for me, but could be for some folks.

 

My main compliant is that I wanted to stay with these characters forever. They were all beautifully complicated and endearing in their unique ways. I love good, well-written characters. I feel like the people who would like this story are folks who love rich, intergenerational stories, multiple timelines, a bit of historical fiction, family drama, a dash of mystery, a tiny touch of love loss, and reconciliation. Honestly, this might make it on my list of “required” readings.